The launch of Soyuz TM-13

On the 2nd October 1991 scores of politician, functionaries and watchers from the former Soviet Union congregated in Baikonur to attend the launch of Soyuz TM-13. Austria was represented through a delegation headed by the Federal Chancellor Dr. Franz Vranitzky. The delegation involved behind others the Vice Chancellor and the Federal Minister of Science and Research Dr. Erhard Busek, the Minister of Defence Dr. Werner Fasslabend, the former Federal Minister of Science and Research Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hans Tuppy and the burgomaster of Graz Alfred Stingl. At 05:00 CET (08:00 local time) two hours before the launch the Austrian-Soviet crew, consisting of the commander Alexandr Volkov, the board engineer Toktar Aubakirov and the scientific cosmonaut Franz Viehboeck climbed the space transporter Soyuz TM-13. Up to the launch all systems of the rocket and the capsule were folded a check. All tests ran positive and the automatic countdown was started. The cable- and tanktowers were moved from the rocket. Turbopumpaggregats went on line, the ignition mechanismn of the rocket was activated. The chambers of the first and the second step were fired. The power engine won power. At 06:59 CET (09:59 lokal time) the Soyuz launch vehicle with the space transporter Soyuz TM-13 left off to the space station MIR. The docking of Soyuz TM-13 at the orbital station MIR took place at the 4th October 1991 at 08:40 CET. The flight routing center had radio and TV-contact with the crew and the cadre of the space station (commander Anatoli Arzebarskij, board engineer Sergej Krikaljov). The last two hours before docking were as follows: 05:26 - 05:49 Radio communication with the crew during the 32th orbit of Soyuz TM-13 05:28 - 05:46 TV-transmission of the flight parameters 06:05 - 08:40 Orientation and reversing of the orbital complex before docking, stabilized flight of the complex 06:15 - 08:10 Autonomous approximation of the space transporter to the orbital complex 06:54 Switch-on of the approximation system on board of the space transporter Soyuz TM-13 06:56 - 07:24 Radio communication with the crew during the 33th orbit of Soyuz TM-13 06:58 - 07:20 TV-transmission of the flight parameters 06:59 Switch-on of the approximation system "Course" on board of the orbital complex 07:54 - 08:42 Radio communication with the crew over the relay satellite 08:10 - 08:33 Fly round of the orbital complex through the space transporter and "attach" in a distance of 90 - 120 m 08:26 - 08:57 Radio communication with the crew during the 34th orbit (32219th orbit of the space station MIR) 08:32 - 08:51 TV-transmission of the outside fixed camera and the flight parameters considering the approximation- and docking process from board of the space transporter 08:33 - 08:40 Docking sequence 08:39 - 08:46 TV-transmission of the flight parameters from board of the space station MIR 08:40 C O N T A C T 08:40 - 08:57 Realization of the coupling maneuver 08:57 - 10:10 Check of the docking connection`s impermeability, change for the crew in the crew unit of the space transporter, doff and dehumidify of the spacesuits, pressurization between space transporter and space station 10:10 - 10:20 Opening of the hatch, change for the international crew into the space station So began the six days lasting habitation of the Austrian-Soviet crew on the orbital station MIR.

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